Paint can holder

ABSTRACT

The paint can holder provides an attachment plate with hook, and an attachment device for attaching the paint can holder to a painter&#39;s body or fastening the paint can holder to a painter&#39;s clothing, for example a pair of openings through which a strap or belt is disposed. The hook may be provided with a movable retaining device that closes the hook to retain the handle of the paint can. The attachment plate is preferably contoured to the shape of the painter&#39;s body and may be provided with ridges that reinforce the plate and help to stabilize the paint can.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/721925 filed Nov. 27, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to paint can holders. In particular, this invention relates to a paint can holder that can be strapped to a painter's body or fastened to a painter's clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is a concern of painters that they have free mobility while painting. Painters will often carry their paint can in one hand while painting, thereby restricting their ability to use both hands to support themselves when climbing ladders or painting at awkward angles. This inability to use both hands can lead to accidents and spillage of paint from the paint can as the painter moves about. This also reduces the efficiency of the painting process, because it is more difficult for the painter to switch hands in order to increase the reach of the paint brush from a single position, which increases the risk of spillage or results in wasted time moving the ladder more frequently than would be necessary if the painter had both hands free to paint with.

[0004] In some cases the painter might choose to place the paint can on the ground, which requires the painter to step down from their ladder and to bend over in order to dip their paint brush. This exercise becomes tedious when the painter is painting a large surface area that requires the painter to repeatedly re-dip their paint brush.

[0005] There therefore remains a need to provide a paint can holder that makes it easy for a painter to carry their paint can while painting and to climb ladders and paint in awkward situations with the use of both hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The paint can holder of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages by making it easier for the painter to carry their paint can while painting, freeing both of the painter's hands while climbing ladders and applying paint. The paint can holder thus helps to alleviate some of the accidents that are likely to occur by carrying the paint can in the painter's hand while painting.

[0007] The present invention thus provides a paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing, whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.

[0008] The present invention further provides a paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and a strap for attaching the attachment plate to a person's body, whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.

[0009] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: a hook, an attachment plate for supporting the hook, said attachment plate comprising a movable retaining device movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing; whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.

[0010] In further aspects of the invention: the attachment plate is contoured to conform to the person's body; the attachment device comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate; the attachment device further comprises a strap disposed through the openings; the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough; the movable retaining device is a lever or is hinged to the hook; the movable retaining device is a flexible flange affixed to the attachment plate; the flexible flange has a barbed tip disposed in opposition to a barbed tip of the hook, whereby in the closed position the barbed tips interlock; at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate; and/or the attachment plate comprises a lip along an upper edge thereof.

[0011] Various other advantages with be apparent to the person skilled in the art from the following description of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the paint can holder,

[0014]FIG. 2 is a front view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1,

[0015]FIG. 3 is a back view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1,

[0016]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1,

[0017]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 6a is a side view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1 with the hook in the closed position;

[0019]FIG. 6b is a side view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1 with the hook in the open position;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the paint can holder;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the paint can holder of FIG. 7;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the paint can holder of FIG. 7;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the paint can holder of FIG. 7;

[0024]FIG. 11a is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the paint can holder with a hinged hook attachment in an open condition,

[0025]FIG. 11b is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a with the hinged hook attachment in a closed position,

[0026]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1 holding a paint can,

[0027]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1 showing the strap,

[0028]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the paint can holder of the invention, and

[0029]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a further manner of supporting a paint can using the paint can holder of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the paint can holder 1 includes an attachment plate 5, a hook 10 and an attachment device for attaching the paint can holder 1 to a painter's body.

[0031] The attachment plate 5 is preferably generally square or rectangular in shape. It has an upper portion 20 and a lower portion 25. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment plate 5 may be contoured to fit to a person's body. The attachment plate 5 is either molded in a contoured form or is made from a suitable flexible material that allows it to conform to the contour of the person's body upon attachment.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the hook 10 is disposed generally at the lateral middle of the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5. The hook 10 functions as a lever and can be pivoted about a web 22 from a closed position to an open position. The hook 10 is comprised of three integrally connected segments tip 30, upper hook segment 40 and lower hook segment 45. The tip 30 is a movable retaining device. It is angled inwardly helping to secure a paint can handle within the hook 10 when the hook 10 is in use. The lower hook segment 45 extends downward from upper hook segment 40 and preferably lies generally parallel to the attachment plate 5 when the hook is in the closed position as best shown in FIG. 6a.

[0033] The hook 10 is attached to a reinforcement bar 52 at web 22. Reinforcement bar 52 is connected to the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5 and extends the length of the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5. Tip 30 abuts the reinforcement bar 52 when the hook is in the closed position (FIG. 6a).

[0034] To unhook a paint can handle from within hook 10, the lower hook segment 40 is depressed, pivoting the hook 10 about web 22 and moving upper hook segment 40 and tip 30 outwardly and away from reinforcement bar 52. In this configuration, the hook 10 is in the open position (FIG. 6b). When the lower hook segment 45 is released, the tip 30 pivots back toward the reinforcement bar 52 returning the hook 10 to the closed position.

[0035] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the hook 50 is generally J-shaped. The tip 60 is angled inwardly, but does not abut the attachment plate 5 (FIG. 8).

[0036] The lower hook segment 80 is integrally attached to the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5 at right angles, thereby creating an opening 90 in front of the attachment plate 5 as best seen in FIG. 8. The opening 90 is configured to provide sufficient room to allow a handle 4 of a paint can 2 to be easily inserted into the hook 50, as shown in FIG. 15.

[0037] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the hook 10 of the preferred embodiment can be molded directly to the reinforcement bar 52 and the hook 50 can be molded directly to the attachment plate 5 or affixed separately. The hook 10, 50 can be constructed of any number of suitable materials, but must be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the paint can against the lower hook segment 30, 80.

[0038] In order to attach the paint can holder 1 to a painter's body or clothing, an attachment device is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5 includes openings, in the embodiments shown in the form of slots 15 configured to receive a strap 6.

[0039] One of the slots 15 is located on each side of the hook adjacent to the edges of the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5. When the paint can holder 1 is in use, therefore, the paint can holder 1 can be strapped to a painter's body by a strap or belt 6 worn around the painter's hips by fitting the strap or belt 6 through the slots 15 (see FIG. 13).

[0040] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the attachment plate 5 could also be conveniently adapted to support other attachment devices that can be used to attach the paint can holder to the painter or the painter's clothing without deviating from the invention as claimed.

[0041] In use, a belt or strap 6 is inserted through the slots 15, preferably from front-to-back as shown in FIG. 13, so that the attachment plate 5 bears against the painter's body. The painter attaches the paint can holder 1 to his or her body by placing the paint can holder 1 against the painter's hips so that the contour of the attachment plate 5 conforms to the painter's body. The strap or belt 6 is then tied, buckled or otherwise fastened to support the paint can holder 1 against the painter's body.

[0042] When the paint can holder 1 is in place, the handle 4 of the paint can 2 may be inserted into the hook and the paint can 2 is thus suspended from the paint can holder 1, as shown in FIG. 15, in a position accessible to the painter.

[0043] In order to maintain the handle 4 of the paint can 2 more securely within the hook 50, the tip 60 may be hinged to the upper hook segment 70 as at knuckle 75, as illustrated in FIGS. 11a and 11 b. The tip 60 may thus be pivoted between an open position, illustrated in FIG. 11a, and a closed position, illustrated in FIG. 11b in which the opening 90 is closed to prevent dislodgement of the paint can handle 4 during use.

[0044] In a further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, a flexible locking flange 53 is located across the top of the upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5. The locking flange 53 has a barbed tip 57 disposed in opposition to a barbed tip 59 of the hook 50, so that depressing the locking flange 53 against the hook 50 causes the barbed tip 57 to cam over and interlock with the barbed tip 59, thereby closing the opening 90 to the hook 50. Locking flange 53 is a movable retaining device and retains the handle of the paint can within the hook 50 by providing an upper barrier to the paint can handle 4 if the paint can 2 is jostled or moved suddenly when in use.

[0045] The paint can holder 1 may include at least one ridge 60 disposed across the attachment plate 5. The ridge 60 may reinforce the attachment plate 5 to help retain the contour of the attachment plate 5. Providing more than one ridge 60 across the attachment plate 5 as shown would then increase reinforcement of the attachment plate 5.

[0046] Additionally, the upper edge of the attachment plate 5 may be provided with a lip 55, which further reinforces the attachment plate 5 and in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 provides a partial barrier against dislodgment of the handle 4 of the paint can 2.

[0047]FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative manner of supporting the paint can 2, in which the rim of the paint can 2 abuts and is stabilized by the lower ridge 60. This can be achieved by positioning the lower ridge 60 according to the size of the handle 4.

[0048] Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device, movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing, whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.
 2. The paint can holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment plate is contoured to conform to the person's body.
 3. The paint can holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.
 4. The paint can holder of claim 3, wherein the attachment device further comprises a strap disposed through the openings.
 5. The paint can holder of claim 4 wherein the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.
 8. The paint can holder of claim 1 wherein the movable retaining device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment plate.
 9. The paint can holder of claim 8 wherein the movable retaining device is hinged to said hook.
 10. The paint can holder of claim 1 wherein at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate.
 12. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and a strap for attaching the attachment plate to a person's body, whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.
 13. The paint can holder of claim 12, wherein the attachment plate is contoured to conform to the person's body.
 14. The paint can holder of claim 12, wherein the attachment device comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.
 15. The paint can holder of claim 14 wherein the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.
 18. The paint can holder of claim 12 wherein the movable retaining device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment plate.
 19. The paint can holder of claim 18 wherein the movable retaining device is hinged to said hook.
 20. The paint can holder of claim 12 wherein at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate.
 21. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: a hook, an attachment plate for supporting the hook, said attachment plate comprising a movable retaining device movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing; whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.
 22. The paint can holder of claim 21 wherein the movable retaining device is a flexible flange affixed to the attachment plate.
 23. The paint can holder of claim 22 wherein the flexible flange has a barbed tip disposed in opposition to a barbed tip of the hook, whereby in the closed position the barbed tips interlock. 